Eric Church Is Lying Low After Record-Breaking Tour

Eric Church has just wrapped up a record-breaking tour, and now he's taking a breather. The iconic 'Chief' isn't planning to take on anything new for the time being.

After his final bow, Church took off for his family's retreat in North Carolina, which offers very little access to the outside world. He welcomes this. In fact, the artist says music is the last thing on his mind — all he wants now is quiet.

"I'm on top of the mountain with almost no cell reception," he tells Billboard. "We picked this place for that reason. There's like, one place you can stand, if the weather's right, to get cellphone service and communicate with the outside world. Otherwise, no one can get ahold of me up here."

While fans might not like to hear that Church is taking it easy these days, time off is necessary. Church's 62-night tour had him onstage for three hours each night. The Holdin' My Own Tour ran from January through May, with the final dates — two nights — taking place at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.

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Church used the tour to promote and celebrate the success of his fifth studio album, Mr. Misunderstood. He didn't write new music while on the road — "I couldn't," he says — and has been struggling to churn out songs since. "I’m still not able to write," he explains. "Over the last month, I’ve been poking at it a little bit, picking up the guitar now and then. I’m still not there, mainly because of the tour and what it took from me creatively and emotionally. It just didn’t leave a whole lot left for other stuff."

Church has a handful of dates on the calendar for the rest of the year, resuming his live show on Sept. 2 in Nevada. As for what's next in broader terms?

"I’m trying to figure out the answer to that question: Is there anything else that I haven’t done?" he asks, rhetorically. "And, more importantly, what do I want to do next? I currently have nothing. I’m still just trying to process everything."